They were broken. Even with his blurry gaze, Travis could see that. It seemed that this last trip finally caught up to the large lens. The second year Ravenclaw, sat against the wall in one of the first floor corridors. He could faintly smell food, so he was near either the stairs to the kitchen or the Great Hall. One of the two, he couldn't be quite sure as Travis had not really been paying attention.

It was really no surprise that the second year was on the floor, that he had taken a trip. What would be a surprise would be if he did not trip or do something clumsy.

At first, Travis was grateful that the suit of armor, the base of which his foot had gotten caught on, had not joined him on the floor. He could still remember that happening in the Armor Gallery and he didn't really want a repeat of it. However, looking at the broken frames, he would have preferred the mess. Travis did not trust himself to fix them. He would probably blow them up, which would leave him blind until Mum or Dad could send him a new pair.

Leaning against the wall, Travis bent his knees up leaning his elbows upon the top of them. His hands hung somewhat limply between his legs, his fingers grasping the sides of his glasses. Occasionally he'd flick the frames up a little. The frames were past normal repair. One lens being cracked, the other shattered, and the frames bent more than a little out of shape. Magic really was the best way to fix them.

A frown graced his lips. Despite the situation, Travis wasn't completely upset about it. It was not the first time and undoubtedly it won't be the last.

Thai:

On a nice day, Thai would normall find herself outside on the grounds, exercising in one form or another. However on this day, Thai took a break. She wandered about the corridors breathign in the old musky air, and enjoying her lonesome. Arriving to the first floor corridors, a place Thai rarely ventured, it was immediatly colder. not cold enough to go back, but cold enough to get a few good goosebumps.

Not paying any attention to the world around her, lost in thought, Thai closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. On her way down the corridor she missed something. There was a younger fellow, on the ground.As expected with her eyes closed,Thai tripped right over him. Immediatly asshamed of herself, she yelped slightly. "I'm terribly sorry! I really should watch where I'm going!It's all my fault."

Thai spend the next few minutes worrying her butt off about how he was felling. Anything that popped into her mind, she said. "Are you okay?Are you hurt?" All the while, Thai did not manage to realise that aside from her obvious apologies, she was still on top of the boy, probably suffocating him, as he was a good bit smaller than herself.

Travis:

Even as they body of someone landed on him, Travis heard the frames of his glasses break a little more. Underneath two human bodies the frames were probably flat as a pancake and past even the repair of magic. However, these thoughts were not foremost in his mind. No, what was foremost on his mind was the fact that he was being currently crushed and he couldn't breath.

Unable to process anything the girl was saying, at it was a girl as Travis unfortunately found out but the wrong placement of one of his hands, he pushed at her to get her off him. Travis was still small and hence not very strong. He could only push the girl up a few inches, not enough for him to get from under her but at least enough for him to start breathing again and make some utterance.

"Getroff me!" he said breathlessly. Devon and Rebeckah had never squashed him so thoroughly before. In the back of his mind, Travis made note to thank his siblings for not doing so. It was far from pleasant. However, he wouldn't go so far to promise not to complain about anything his siblings ever do to him again. That would be going to far.

Thai:

This was embarrassing. Thai didnt often find herself in these kind of situations, becuase she didnt often find herself in the company of others. But now she was laying on top of a boy, her face as red as the apple she ate for breakfast. Thai scurried to get off of the boy, but it didnt turn out as graceful as she had hoped, and somehow in the mix up she was molested a bit. That was okay thought, becuase the next thing she noticed was his glasses laying on the floor. Shattered.

"Oh, crap." She thought. Thai was just waiting for the boy to yell out in rage, so she braced herself, while fixing her rather revealing skirt, as it had shifted quite a bit durring the fall. Without realising the irony, Thai closed her eyes again and began to apologise again, "I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." She bit her lip and knealt to help him up. Hopefullt he woulndt be so mad as to decline a little common courtesy. It seemed that some did these days. People were people she supposed.

What embarrassed Thai the most was the boy was cute. He may have looked incredably young compared to her, but all in all, had he been a bit older she'd have been all over him by now. nonetheless, he probably didnt want to talk to her at all, let alone date her now that she had completely smashed his glasses. Even thought they could be quickly fixed. A simple spell was all that was needed, but from past expierence, folk with glasses can be awefully protective. Thai's own mother infact wore glasses similar to the boy's, and she was a monster when she couldn't find them. Parading aboout the house like a cave troll searching for them in every odd end. He was a Ravenclaw too...

Travis:

Travis could not described the relief he felt when the girl got off over him. If he was a year or two older the lad might have felt a little differently, but as it was he was still a little on the young side. He took a few large breaths, his lungs finally be abel to expand completely again. When his breath was back, Travis's hand went automatically to the ground, his fingers quickly locating the crushed frames.

The young boy was correct in his assessment of the lens. They were far past any form of repair, even by magic. With magic one needed all the pieces to fix the item. It was clear that the lens were past repair, and who could say where any of the pieces of lens could be.

"It's my fault as well," Travis said as he allowed the older girl to help him up. "I was sitting on the floor. That's just asking for something to happen." Travis slid the frames of his glasses into his pant's pockets. "Although I seem to be on the floor half the time any way so I suppose it's nothing new," he then said with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders.

The second year had made numerous messes during his time in the school. He had even set the common room a fire ... well the sofa anyway. Travis still could not say how he accomplished that!

Thai:

Well, Thai was wrong. When the boy she had bumped into (or over rather) picked up his glasses, they were shards. Past any repair she was capable of. Of course she didnt look up spells for spectacle repairs, because she dosnt wear them.

At least he took some blame. Thai felt a little relieved, but not much. It was still embarrassing. She still tripped over him. "I should have been watching where I..." Then a tought struck Thai. A relisation of sorts. She recognised the boy. Sure he was in her house but, he looked familiar beyond that.

That was it. He was the boy who set the common room couch on fire. It wasnt that big of a deal, but something Thai certainly remembered hearing about.She wasn't there fo course, but she was informed the next day. Whispers of "He set fire to the divan" and for weeks all the Ravenclaw Thai saw were pointing and talking. Like they never made a mistake. He was young. What did he know?

"Travis right?"

Travis:

Travis blinked when she asked if he was Travis. Why would this upper year know his name? Was he that well known as a klutz? Travis didn't think to think that she may have known him from the sofa fire incident. After all, Travis had never seen this girl before.

Well, maybe he had glimsped her in the common room, but that was it. It was hardly enough to imprint into his memory. Besides, Travis usually had other things on his mind. Usually that was watching his own feet so he didn't trip over anything.

Not that watching ever helped him to stay up right. He usually ended up on the floor eventually. Why else had he been sitting on the floor in on the first floor? He had of course, tripped.

"Yes ... Travis Nutosk," Travis answered her after only a moment.

Thai:

Realising she just explained he was a notorious loser, Thai bit her lip. He didn't deserve that. Afterall, it's not like no one else has done it before. In Thai's first year, a girl in her house set one of the couches on fire trying to transfigure a turtle into a pillow. That was a moment to remember, but not one to be haunting. The moment was forgotten by most people.

She smiled. "Thai Kim." Thai held out her hand, hoping he'd shake it now too. Was that a bit much? It was common courtesy, but she did just nearly crush him. It can't have been too comfortable down there. Well, he did get a cheap feel out of it.

The cold air seemed to get even colder. A small gust of wind blew by, most likely a door opening. Even the cold was not enough to bring about more goosbumps on Thai. They were already there. Not that the cold really bothered her that much, considering the hours spent out in the Hogwarts snow. This time, the goosebumps were of embarrassment.

Travis:

Travis shook her hand when she extended it introducing herself. "Nice to meet you," he said. Travis didn't ask her house, since he assumed they were in the same house. He placed his hands into his pockets after he shook her hand.

"I should head back to the common room," he then stated, "as I have to write my mum to send me another pair of glasses ..." he trailed off for a moment. "Maybe Devon or Beccah have a pair ..." he muttered to himself. His mother may have talked one of his older siblings into take a pair with them, in case Travis broke the two pair had brought with him to school.

Travis always brought a second pair of glasses with him. However, the problem came when he broke both pair past fixing. It didn't happen often, this may have been perhaps the second or third time. It was still annoying. Neither his mum or dad liked paying for new glasses. His mother was actually looking into giving Travis a new muggle contraptions ... what did she say they were? Contacts! Thats what they were. So, he could poke himself in the eye when he took them in or out.

Thai:

The boy was adorable. Writting to mum for new glasses. But what would he do until they arrived? He obviously could barely see with them, imagine without them. "I'll walk you. The least I could do is assure that you don't trip again." It really was the least she could do. How do you apologise for squashing someone half your size? Not to mention that he was very young. Being around someone in the sixth year must be intimidating enough. Especially for a half blind klutz.

Atleast Thai would be more observant now. She'd never imagined tripping over someone and getting molested on one of her soothing walks. This is about as embarrassing as it gets. Good thing there was no one else around to see it. Not that Thai really had anyone to impress...

Getting back to Earth, Thai spoke "So, you're the one who lit the common room couch on fire right?"

Travis:

"If you want," Travis said in response to her walking him back to the Common Room. He didn't mind. It may even be helpful, at least he hoped so. He didn't want to walk of a staircase or something. True, he wasn't that blind without his glasses, but blind enough to make traveling a little difficult. However, the twelve year old was used to walking without his glasses at times, hence he had learned to understand the blurry blobs he saw when he wasn't a two feet away from something.

The lad grimaced when she brought up the sofa. "Yeah..." he answered simply. It wasn't one of his best days. To make things worse he had not even been able to put it out. It was only put out when a seventh year had taken pity on him and Travis was almost to the point of tears. Not a favorite memory... but then he didn't have many of those when thinking about his klutz.

He was actually looking forward to the Ball ... it would give him peace, away from other people. Since more than half his house would probably attending it. They boy really had no interest in such functions yet.

Thai:

As Thai and Travis began walking back to the common room, she realised how embarrassed he was. "It's alright. I'm going to let you in on a secret. In my second year I set my charms professors hair on fire." she smiled.

Of course, this didn't actually happen. She just wanted him to feel better. She came close to it though, but missed her head and got the curtains behind her instead. But Thai figured it would be better to leave that part out.

Reaching the stair case the would lead them to the second floor, Thai got curious. "So, surely someone as adorable as you already has a ball date?" She realised that was a bit strong, but it was reaching the day of the ball and she had yet to find a date. Plus he was cute...

Travis:

Travis made no comment on her sitting her Charms Professor's chair on fire. It didn't really make him feel any better. It just told him that there were other people in the world that could do the same thing he did almost every day. However, Travis had for a while now grown accustom to his clumsiness. It was a way of life and one that he had mastered. Sure, he got embarrassed by some of the things that happened but he found the world continued to spin and that people forgot ... eventually.

He blinked when she brought up the ball.

"I'm not going to it," he stated. "I'll get the common room pretty much all to my self with almost everyone going to it," he added with a small nod. It would be the perfect time to finish his book!

Thai:

Thai was a bit shocked to be honest when he said he wouldn't be attending. "Well that's silly! You can set the couch on fire any day. You can only go to the ball once." Of course. If you get technical you can go twice, but Thai wasn't going there.

This was something every student looked forward to, how could he not go? It didn't happen every year after all. This was Thai's sixth year, and her first school ball. If that isnt saying something. The whole theme of the ball was renewal. You could become a completely new perason, with a brighter outlook on life. Mabey even a boyfriend or girlfriend if you're lucky.

Thai's parents met at a ball infact. They both went to a smaller school in Korea of course, but that was when the sparks happened. Two friends started dating, then they got married and had kids years later. This is why everyone went to these dances. With hope for something more. Something to add to thier lifes story. Soemthing to remember and reminisce when you're old. Afterall, what would Thai's parents say if she didn't have a date?

Travis:

Travis did not look perturbed at her comment. "I have no interest in the Ball," he stated matter-factly and stubbornly. He was determined that he wasn't going to go to this thing. He would not have fun. He wasn't a social butterfly, as the term went, and he did not enjoy parties.

The boy was probably still too young to understand the concept of the ball. "Besides, I have no intention of starting the couch on fire again ... I want to finish my book," he then said. How often would he have the common room to himself? The peace and quiet. It would be so perfect.

At least until everyone came back from the ball. However, Travis had made a point to be determined to go up to his dorm when people start trickling back in between Friday and Saturday. Heck ... he probably wouldn't even need to stay in his common room. The entire castle will probably be empty with all the students and staff on the grounds.

Thai:

Travis obviously didn't get the joke. But Thai also had a plan. They neared the common room, and she stopped. She was going to leave Travis wondering what would happen if he went. Well, that was if her plan went as, planned. "Hinkypunk." She spoke to open the door to the common room, where inside other Ravenclaws were most likely chatting about the ball themselves.

Thai stepped halfway into the door and then leaned into Travis ear, was if to tell him a secret. "Well if you chance your mind, I'll still be there." she whispered, and then started into the commonr room. She looked back at Travis once, before continuing on her way up the stairs to the dormitories.

Travis:

Girls are weird, this was Travis's thought at Thai's words before she left him standing in the corridor. Of course, Thai was the first real interaction he actually had with the female gender. One did not count his mother or sister. That just wasn't the same.

He shook his head before he entered the common room. However, he did not seek out the older girl, instead he went straight to his dormitory. He had a letter to write after all. Travis did not want to be "blind" for the rest of the term. He just hoped his mother would send a new pair of glasses to him soon.